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It was 69 years ago this month that a couple of brothers in San Bernardino, California, decided to set up a quick-service restaurant selling barbeque to travelers. Thanks to them, we’re clogging our arteries with the Big Mac and Filet-O-Fish today, so let’s pay homage to the great Mickey D’s with a bit of trivia about the company and their goods.
1. The first official McDonald’s was called McDonald’s Bar-B-Q and stood on the corner of 14th and E Streets in San Bernardino. They sold primarily barbeque, obviously, and offered about 25 different menu items, brought out to vehicles by carhops. No indoor seating was available.
2. Although the barbeque business was pretty banging, they shut down for a bit in 1948 and revamped the place. When they reopened three months later, the place re-emerged as a self-service joint with burgers, fries, potato chips, soda, milk, coffee and pie. A hamburger would set a patron back 15 cents.
3. 1954: the famous Ray Kroc enters the picture. The 52-year-old milkshake machine salesman intended to talk the McDonald brothers into buying more of his products, but ended up franchising the small, family-run business. Kroc’s first McDonald’s opened a year later in Des Plaines, Illinois, with the now-ubiquitous golden arches. By 1958, more than 100 million hamburgers had been sold. The brothers weren’t really interested in expanding any more; they were perfectly satisfied with the growth they had already seen from their meager hamburger stand in San Bernardino. But Kroc had bigger visions for the company and bought the brothers out for a reported $2.7 million in 1961.
4. Kind of a jerk move, if you ask me: the McDonald brothers retained the right to the very first restaurant in San Bernardino, which really angered Ray, so he opened a McD’s right by their original store and ran them out of business. The site of the first-ever McDonald’s is now home to the corporate headquarters of Juan Pollo restaurants. And because the brothers refused to sell the original building and the land it stood on, Kroc refused to recognize the royalty agreement that they had verbally settled on before – 0.5% of the chain’s annual revenues. Although it seemed like an astronomical sum at the time, I’d say old Ray definitely got a heck of a bargain when he bought out McDonald’s for $2.7 million. That’s chump change to the corporation these days.
5. Ronald McDonald first appeared on the scene in 1963. Willard Scott claims to have invented him – at the time, he was playing Bozo the Clown. When Bozo went off the air in 1962, Scott says McDonald’s came to him and asked him to create a character that would equal Bozo in popularity. There is another person trying to claim the Ronald throne, though: performer George Voorhis said he was the original Ronald, and has a newspaper clipping from 1963 that touts his appearance as the famous clown at a local restaurant. McDonald’s doesn’t acknowledge either claim, but does admit that the first-ever appearance of its mascot was performed by Scott (that’s his terrifying portrayal in the picture). Ronald is officially recognized as the “Chief Happiness Officer” of the corporation. Gag.
6. Some of the company’s greatest hits have been created by franchisees, not chefs at the home office. The Filet-O-Fish was invented by Lou Groen, an franchiser in Cincinnati whose restaurants were struggling. Noting the large number of Catholic customers, he decided to add a fish sandwich to the menu and it caught on like wildfire. The Big Mac was created by Jim Delligatti, who had several restaurants around Pittsburgh. He wanted it to compete with the Big Boy. Herb Peterson, the operator of a McDonald’s in Santa Barbara, was the genius behind the Egg McMuffin. He asked Ray Kroc to look at adding the item to the menu but started serving it before he got approval from McDonald’s corporate. They weren’t happy at first, but the popularity of the McMuffin proved too great for corporate to ignore.
7. Those of us who are of a certain age remember McDonaldland and its cheerful citizens Grimace, Hamburglar, Mayor McCheese, Birdie and the Fry Kids. The McDonaldland crew is still around today to some extent, but they’re not the craze that they were when I was a kid. There are a few characters that were dropped even before these main characters started being phased out, though: Officer Big Mac, Captain Crook and Uncle O’Grimacey. Officer Big Mac resembled Mayor McCheese, except he was a policeman and obviously had that extra bun in the middle of his head. He was created to chase after the Hamburglar and Captain Crook. Crook was, as you might imagine, a take-off on Captain Hook from Peter Pan. He wasn’t after hamburgers like the Hamburglar was, though – Crook’s idea of serious booty was the Filet-O-Fish sandwich. Uncle O’Grimacey was, go figure, Grimace’s uncle from Ireland. He visits Grimace in the States every year to herald the coming of the Shamrock Shake in March. At least, he used to. Now the shakes just show up of their own accord, because Uncle O’Grimacey doesn’t appear to be in the advertising plan anymore.
8. Speaking of the delightful Shamrock Shake, it’s definitely my favorite McDonald’s menu item, and I miss it EVERY YEAR. I love all things mint… so it’s weird that I would love the Shamrock Shake, because “mint” or “mint flavoring” is not among the ingredients listed in a Shamrock Shake. And as an aside, this actually made me laugh out loud: apparently McDonald’s introduced the “Minty Mudbath” as a promotional item to go with Shrek the Third a couple of years ago. It was a Shamrock Shake with chocolate mixed in. They pulled the item after it was discovered that “minty mudbath” is slang for a fetish sex act. I’m not going to spell it out for you, but Urban Dictionary will.
9. The Happy Meal has been around since 1979. That first one cost only a buck and would get kids a hamburger or cheeseburger, a 12-ounce soda, small french fries, an assortment of little cookies and some sort of little extra: a stencil, a puzzle book, a wrist wallet, an ID bracelet or erasers shaped like McDonaldland characters. They didn’t take long to hook up with Hollywood – the first movie-based Happy Meal toy was featured the same year the set was introduced. The toys were based on Star Trek: The Motion Picture. I can’t remember being infatuated with any of the McDonald’s toys, but I do remember having to own all of the California Raisins collectibles you could get at Hardee’s.
10. McDonald’s has stores in 119 countries on six continents. In Singapore, you can place your order over the phone and have your McD’s delivered to you. In Germany (and other European countries) you can enjoy a Pilsner with your Big Mac and fries. If you check out menus in Japan you may find a green tea-flavored milkshake and shrimp nuggets. In Uruguay, you can get a McHuevo, which is a burger topped with a poached egg. I know several people who think any sandwich can be improved by being topped with an egg, so this makes sense to me. And in Norway, you can enjoy a McLak, a salmon sandwich.
So I now have this craving for a Shamrock Shake that I’m not going to be able to satisfy until next March. Awesome. Do you have a favorite McDonald’s item, or do you swear off fast food? Honestly, I’m more of a Wendy’s girl, myself.
Comments (84)
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I definitely enjoy Wendy’s much more than McDonald’s as well – the most unique McDonald’s experience I have was 2006 when I spent some time in the Tel Aviv airport – all we had access to as far as food was concerned was a Kosher McDonald’s. No cheeseburgers (obviously) and the desserts were sold from a completely seperate space to alleviate any possibility of mixing dairy and meat…
posted by Cameron on 5-7-2009 at 3:45 pm
They need to come back with the McRib. It is so good. I remember working there the last time it was around this area and would eat four or five of those during a shift and I always made sure the bun was floating in the barbeque sauce. MMMMM!!!!
posted by Joe on 5-7-2009 at 3:58 pm
I’m 7 months pregnant and crave the Sausage Burrito in the mornings… sometimes I eat 2 of them! I dunno why, just the flavor of theirs in particular is something my baby can’t get enough of…
posted by Carrie on 5-7-2009 at 4:10 pm
I’ve been wanting the sausage burritos so bad lately! Nothing else will do for my pregnant tummy!
posted by MamaC on 5-7-2009 at 4:13 pm
McDonald’s best item is the cookies. They taste like the Halloween/Easter ones you cut from the giant cookie dough salami roll and bake.
Taco Bell is by far the best fast food restaurant. It’s a must have in college. Although, I love that BK offers a veggie burger alternative.
posted by Erika on 5-7-2009 at 4:15 pm
I remember enjoying a McKielbasa while in Krakow. It was McFantastic.
Recaptcha: Reardon, 2d. Atlas Shrugged, maybe?
posted by Zach on 5-7-2009 at 4:17 pm
I also love the McRib, but am a big fan of the cheeseburger – no onions. I am not a fan of onions, especially the onion slurry McD’s likes to use.
posted by Matthew on 5-7-2009 at 4:20 pm
The Minty Mudbath thing doesn’t surprise me, especially after the Double Cheesburger “I’d Hit It.” guy ad they pulled a couple of years ago. Click my name for that piece of advertising genius.
posted by Johnny Cat on 5-7-2009 at 4:27 pm
I agree with the sausage burritos. I don’t know what is so good about them. I like the fact they aren’t the huge kind that you get a heart attack after eating one. I also dig the McSkillet burrito too.
posted by Colene on 5-7-2009 at 4:32 pm
Oh man, the minty mudbath thing is repulsing and hilarious at the same time…that’s crazy/funny.
posted by D on 5-7-2009 at 4:46 pm
How come no one talks about the McWings they had in the 90’s those were frikin’ delicious!
Recaptcha: Gobi Seminate
GROSS!! Could that have something to do with Mint nasty showers or whatever? LOL!
posted by Chrystani on 5-7-2009 at 4:55 pm
For a while, they had an ill-fated concept for a bratwurst. Being a Wisconsin transplant, I naturally had to try it, and was disgusted at this lame attempt. I liked the fries though. And before they started making up the sandwiches as you order (remember? they’d all be sitting on a warming tray behind the registers?) I would always place my order with at least one of the condiments added or subtracted to ensure a fresh sandwich.
posted by Walter on 5-7-2009 at 5:00 pm
Not a fan of fast food–I used to cry if we had to stop and eat at a fast food burger place when I was little. Of all the strange proclivities to pick up when one is young, that’s probably not a bad one to have. I don’t know–the burgers are just so freakishly not like real burgers, which I do love. Bleah.
The naughty milkshake is hilarious. So what’s in the Shamrock Shake if it isn’t minty? Is it just green?
posted by kate on 5-7-2009 at 5:03 pm
wow, there are a lot of McDonald’s menu items on that list and in the comments which I’ve never heard of – our New Zealand McDonald’s pales in comparison! Although they bring out the Kiwi Burger every so often – it includes beetroot, egg and some real onion – not the “just add water” reconstituted onions. yum!
I’m pretty sure the Aussie burger is identical to it.
When I lived in Italy we sometimes went to the McDonald’s after the pubs and bars closed for the night to carry on drinking – you could order some pretty decent beer and wine there! Although I can honestly say I never actually ate McDonald’s food in Italy – it would be a sin against all the delicious (and cheaper) Italian food!
I’m definitely more of a Wendy’s girl as well.
posted by dangermouse on 5-7-2009 at 5:18 pm
LOL!!!
“Minty Mudbath”?!?!?!
After a quick perusal of Urban Dictionary at Stacy’s request, I simply cannot help but wonder…
.. how many times do you engage in a particular act before you decide it is worthy of a unique name?
But, back to the topic at hand… I love those apple pies! Thems is DELISHUS!!!
posted by Goliath The Pickle on 5-7-2009 at 5:18 pm
Those new Angus Burgers are really good –
I hope they keep them on the regular menu
… Though my re-captcha doesn’t leave me too hopeful – it is “Pessimism and”…
posted by Dan on 5-7-2009 at 5:52 pm
Arch Deluxe!
posted by emwin237 on 5-7-2009 at 5:57 pm
I’m not much of a fan of McDonald’s (especially after Supersize Me), but their fries are to die for. I’m more of a Whataburger girl myself. Their ketchup has to be laced with addictive drugs or something.
posted by Kimberly on 5-7-2009 at 6:31 pm
Ooooh, I also forgot to add that “McHuevos” are delicious. I don’t know if the McDonalds versions are, but adding an egg to a burger is yummy. I picked that up in Argentina. Mmmm.
JohnnyCat, I remember sort of doing a double take when they ran that campaign. Hahaha…they should do some quick google searches before they name stuff.
posted by kate on 5-7-2009 at 6:34 pm
During Desert Storm/Shield I was stationed in Naples Italy for nine months – no near by Mickey-D’s. The Nato base had a version of the Egg McMuffin – nothing to wrire home about.
Upon return to the US of A, the first morning I hit the on station McDonald’s. I had eaten six Egg Mc Muffins before I satisfied my cravings for that sandwich. Sorry Wendy’s.
posted by Commander Don on 5-7-2009 at 6:53 pm
After Super Size Me I decided never to eat McDonald’s again. But I do, because there’s one right down the street from my school, and there’s really not much else to do after school.
posted by Isaac on 5-7-2009 at 7:10 pm
There are so many other franchises in SoCal that serve much better burgers, such as In N’ Out. There’s no reason to go to McDonald’s. Their food tastes like cardboard.
posted by Babs on 5-7-2009 at 7:17 pm
Last year when I visited Japan they were selling a cheese tonkatsu burger. For anyone who doesn’t know it’s breaded and deep fried cheese for a pattie. Unfortunatly they had stopped serving it the day before I went to try it out. :(
posted by Miko on 5-7-2009 at 7:29 pm
I have been having a hard time catching the Shamrock Shake in recent years because not all McDs carry it. I think it’s basically the owner’s choice if they want to or not.
posted by Sarah in CA on 5-7-2009 at 7:48 pm
Every once in a while I HAVE to get a cheeseburger there, but other than that, I am more of an In n’ out, jack in the box, or wendy’s. And be on the look-out for carl’s jr (or hardys to you mid-westerners) shakes, sometimes they have mint too!
posted by Cheri on 5-7-2009 at 7:57 pm
I remember the old Happy Meals and the cookies.
I was also affected by Super Size Me… but I still eat there. Not as much as before and I choose the salads way more than burgers or nuggets now. But… sometimes a Quarter Pounder, fries and a Coke really do the S P O T!
I also go there for my son and the playground, especially in summer when it’s frequently 100+ for weeks because their play area is indoor and air-conditioned.
posted by Sarah in CA on 5-7-2009 at 7:58 pm
I heard their happy meal is the most profitable product, and their fries are their most profitable item.
posted by Dan on 5-7-2009 at 8:16 pm
Two words.
Mc Rib.
I don’t even care that it probably isn’t real pork, let alone real meat. It’s real delicious and that’s all that counts.
posted by Huevo on 5-7-2009 at 8:39 pm
I’m not a big fan of McDonalds and there are only 3 things on the menu that I like… the fruit n yogurt parfait, the fries, and the apple pies. Well make that 4 during the fall because the pumpkin pies are pretty awesome.
posted by Megan on 5-7-2009 at 8:49 pm
Is there anyone who remembers when McDonald’s had pizza? I still remember the song for the pizza happy meal commercial. And it was soooo good too!
posted by Shandi on 5-7-2009 at 9:35 pm
McGriddles. Sausage McGriddles with the maple syrup falvored pancake “buns”. Dear God are they good!
posted by juan grande on 5-7-2009 at 9:44 pm
In Hawaii, among other things they have a Spam McMuffin sandwich. (If I recall correctly, they also had one with Portuguese sausage; at the least it was available on their breakfast plates.)
The best thing–and something I really wish they’d bring to the Mainland–is the Taro Pie. I ate so many of those things (from the McD’s on Pearl Harbor) it’s a wonder my youngest child wasn’t born purple!
posted by Sabra on 5-7-2009 at 10:28 pm
I at McDonalds in Spain and they had potato wedges served with some mayo/cream sauce as well as fries. They also had “adult” happy meals where if you ordered a certain meal you got a belt as a prize.
posted by Gina on 5-7-2009 at 10:56 pm
I don’t know about other countries, but McDonald’s in Singapore also has an online website where you can place your order, pay by credit card and check delivery status. As I type, I am enjoying a Sausage McMuffin with Egg meal with green tea, and it took the deliveryman a record 15 minutes to get here. That’s some pretty good service right there.
posted by trip on 5-7-2009 at 11:11 pm
I don’t know about other countries, but in Singapore you can also order over an online website, pay by credit card, and check delivery status. As I type, I’m enjoying a sausage Mcmuffin with egg meal with green tea. The deliveryman got here in a record 15 minutes too. That’s some good service right there.
recaptcha: $386-million fixers
posted by trip on 5-7-2009 at 11:16 pm
I don’t know about other countries, but in Singapore you can also order over an online website, pay by credit card, and check delivery status. As I type, I’m enjoying a sausage Mcmuffin with egg meal with green tea. The deliveryman got here in a record 15 minutes too. That’s some good service right there!
posted by trip on 5-7-2009 at 11:18 pm
I love chicken nuggets!
my brother went to England for a business trip a few years back and went to a McDonalds to see how different it was and at the one he went they had a Texas burger that had barbecue sauce and chili on it, and apparently the English don’t know how to make either bbq sauce or chili…
posted by Kristen on 5-7-2009 at 11:29 pm
I don’t know about other countries, but in Singapore you can also order over an online website, pay by credit card, and check delivery status. As I type, I’m enjoying a sausage Mcmuffin with egg meal with green tea. The deliveryman got here in a record 15 minutes too. That is some good service right there!
posted by trip on 5-7-2009 at 11:39 pm
And what about the McLean deluxe, the one with less fat and supposedly seaweed.
posted by johnnylv on 5-8-2009 at 12:25 am
God, I love McDonalds. It’s absolutely horrible for you, but when you are a broke college student with a craving for non-res. hall food, there is little that is better.
The Ouarter Pounder meal. With a Dr. Pepper. Mmmmmm.
posted by Kieran on 5-8-2009 at 1:53 am
They have the best fries of any big fast food chain operating in the UK that I’ve tried. Unfortunately other chains have better burgers. This is a problem. I’d much rather have a Burger King Angus with McDonald’s fries, or even better a KFC Fillet Tower burger. KFC’s fries are, unfortunately, barely edible.
If you want a good burger, go to St. Pancras International railway station in London and visit the Fine Burger Company. It doesn’t cost much more than a BK or McDs or KFC, and it’s absolutely 100% brilliant. It’s even served with British-style chips!
posted by Nettle on 5-8-2009 at 2:05 am
Shandi – Move to Southern California. Some McDonald’s franchises keep selling promotional products that don’t do well in other areas. For instance, in New Rochelle, NY, McDonald’s sells fajitas, which just seemed silly to a California girl. But as for pizza, there is a franchise in Crestline, CA that still sells it.
posted by Jin on 5-8-2009 at 2:20 am
I love every fast food branch except for those that are not internationalized, like Jack-In-The-Box. The food there, I hear is disgusting. Anyway, there was this menu item exclusive only in the Philippines that I really like & miss now. It’s called a McRice Burger. In a McRice Burger, 2 rice patties served as the buns in this burger. Then after that whatever flavor you like between the rice patties. Also, when you buy it, it comes in a cute, little portable box the shape of a McFries container. Oh gosh, I’m getting hungry while I’m typing this comment. Time for a snack!
posted by Karl on 5-8-2009 at 2:51 am
Oh, I almost forgot. I LOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE the McCheeseburger. I always order the Double Cheeseburger. Before I knew that McDonald’s actually had Cheeseburger in their menus, I always order the Quarter Pounder. Now I like both. Ugh. I’m getting hungry. When’s merienda (that’s what we call an afternoon snack in the Philippines)????
posted by Karl on 5-8-2009 at 2:59 am
What about the McDLT?? Keep the hot side hot and the cold side cold!! lol Best burger ever!!
I’m dating myself here aren’t I?
posted by Sharon on 5-8-2009 at 3:08 am
Thanks for a great article. I saw the head of Captain Crook at this run down mini putt course a while back, I couldn’t think of his name. Thanks for clearing that up.
posted by SNICE on 5-8-2009 at 3:19 am
i’m not a fan of mcdonald’s- it leaves a greasy film in my mouth that just squiks me out.
i do however love burger king with a passion- so much that we had make a rule that we could only have it every once in awhile.
the chicken sandwich and the cheeseburger (because it’s not slathered in diced onions) are the best. so bad for you, but so tasty.
posted by em on 5-8-2009 at 4:15 am
Dangermouse, good to see a fellow NZer here! I really miss the chicken mc cheese burger, something about it was so yummy. And the nuggets! No one has mentioned the nuggets.. ultimate booze food
posted by Haley on 5-8-2009 at 5:14 am
I was in Beijing in 2005 when thet McD’s there was promoting three new items, which I think were competing against each other in a contest to gain a permanent spot on the menu. I tried two of them, and loved both. One was a spicey chicken sandwich with Thousand Island-stlye dressing, and the other was a burger with two patties on a kaiser roll (well, a little smaller) drizzled with jalapeno cheese. The third? Shrimp McNuggets, which looked great, but I have a shrimp allergy. Looks like they’re a staple in Japan, so they must be somewhat popular….
posted by Andy on 5-8-2009 at 6:06 am
Hubby is a night manager for McD’s and when I was pregnant with our daughter he would always come home smelling of French fries ( my favorite thing they have) and it drove me bonkers. It got to the point where he would bring me home a large fry and a chocolate shake every night to appease my ‘I’m eating for two’ munchies. lol
posted by Noxi on 5-8-2009 at 7:07 am
Whenever I have the pleasure of visiting Japan, I can’t resist the Teriyaki burger. Or even better, the newer Teritamo – egg and Teriyaki. The best MacDonalds meal in the world. Still, doesn’t compare to Moss Burger!
posted by Jamie Brown on 5-8-2009 at 8:04 am
Gotta love the potato chops!
posted by tater on 5-8-2009 at 8:51 am
On a note on point 10, when I was backpacking in Sumatra about ten years ago there was an option to have rice instead of chips.
posted by Deano on 5-8-2009 at 8:53 am
I loved McDonald’s as a college student. Great hangover food.
As an adult, I maybe eat there 2-3 times a year, and only when my daughter begs. And then, I usually order a Happy Meal. Super Size Me also affected me in a big way. However, I live in the midwest, so whenever I’m traveling in the western part of the U.S., I absolutely have to go to In ‘n’ Out Burger. Love it.
My favorite McD’s item was always the apple pie, until they started baking it. I had one of their baked pies, and hated it. Haven’t had one since. RIP deep-fried apple pies.
posted by bre on 5-8-2009 at 9:41 am
mmm fast food. I find the Happy Meal is just enough. Plus there’s a toy. Awesome.
Stacy, I am a Wendy’s girl too! You should do a Quick 10 on Wendy’s :)
posted by Reese on 5-8-2009 at 9:42 am
I used to have the privilege, at the tender age of 3, of eating chicken mcnugget happy meals at least twice a week because my grandma worked at a high school right next door to a Micky D’s. (Poster school for childhood obesity!)
And Shamrock shakes are AMAZING.
Still, I’m more of a Wendy’s girl, too.
posted by Jessica on 5-8-2009 at 9:43 am
I will be dating myself, but I loved the original fried pies from McDonald’s, which were either apple or cherry. They were served very hot, with filling the temperature of molten lava. The pain was delicious.
When I was in Hawaii, they had them on the menu, along with the Spam McMuffin. It was awesome!
posted by craig on 5-8-2009 at 10:17 am
I definitely prefer Wendy’s, but they’re not nearly as prevalent.
I love McD Egg McMuffins with no ham (so, just egg and cheese), apple pies, and Diet Coke (I think they add something to it, though some people say it’s their extra large straws). I used to stay away from their chicken, but tried it for the first time a few weeks ago…it was surprisingly good! Their salads have definitely improved as well.
That said, I rarely eat there because of the ridiculous fat content and the inevitable guilt I feel eating it.
posted by Jess on 5-8-2009 at 10:30 am
McDonalds in NYC delivers as well. You can get sick without ever leaving home!
posted by Kang on 5-8-2009 at 10:31 am
I pretty much hate McDonald’s. I get these cravings every once in while and then I eat some and usually feel sick.
I lean more towards Wendy’s than McD. I go for the Cheddar Lovers Bacon Cheeseburger when it’s available. It’s so bad for you (A double cheeseburger with 4 pieces of bacon, 2 slices of cheddar cheese, and cheese sauce), but God I love it.
My Recaptcha is “hippier Chaney”. Seems like an odd combination.
posted by Nick on 5-8-2009 at 10:48 am
I mostly avoid fast food these days, since it’s not even a little bit compatible with my weight loss goals. I had a Big N’ Tasty a few nights ago, however, which was the first time in several months I had consumed The Clowne Moste Eville’s food.
I was sick for a full day. Just run-down, unable to think straight. It was like my tolerance for this horrible, chemical-based food had been lost. I couldn’t help thinking, “Did I used to feel like this all the time?”
Back in college, they had the Big N’ Tasty’s predecessor, the Big Xtra. These were fun to order because they didn’t have a number for the combo meal yet, so if you wanted to really pound the calories, you had to order this: “I want an extra-large Big Xtra Extra Value meal.” It was like Superlative Hell.
posted by Clint on 5-8-2009 at 11:06 am
I remember the majority of those charectars, except for Officer Big Mac, Captain Crook and Uncle O’Grimacey, of course. I remember the playplace used to have a bal pit and merry-go-round. I’ve never had a Shamrock Shake.
posted by Sara in AL on 5-8-2009 at 11:15 am
hey does anyone know if you can order online in Singapore? I wonder how fast the delivery would be though…oh well.
posted by Lamb on 5-8-2009 at 11:40 am
I did 10 years as a McD manager. My favorite temporary item was the Cheddar Melt burger. Light rye bun with grilled onions and cheddar cheese sauce. And the Mighty Wings, those chickens had to have been on steroids to get that big. Everyone at works loves it when I bring in breakfast burritos made as close as McDs and I can make it without reconstituted onions.
posted by mamamo on 5-8-2009 at 12:01 pm
That was supposed to be as close as I can make it to McDs
posted by mamamo on 5-8-2009 at 12:02 pm
I used to love the fries – I was totally devastated after I discovered that McDonald’s fries aren’t vegetarian.
As a kid I was briefly afraid of Grimace when my older brother told me he got that big by eating kids that didn’t finish their Happy Meals.
Thanks for solving the Captain Crook mystery. Playland at a McDonald’s I went to as a kid had a statue of him and I could never figure out who it was. He kind of freaked me out. I loved the commericals with the singing McNuggets and that catchy one for the Rockin’ Hot Cakes.
veg
reCaptcha: mezzo-soprano perjury
posted by vegebrarian on 5-8-2009 at 12:26 pm
Oh, also, what about Mac Tonight the singing moon guy?
posted by vegebrarian on 5-8-2009 at 12:30 pm
When I was in India a few years ago I had to eat at the local McDonalds just to see what the heck could even be on the menu. They had another type of fries that were more like KFC potato wedges, and most of the menu was vegetarian. But they did have the “Chicken Maharaja Mac”, which was quite tasty!
Oh and they delivered to, via moped!
recaptcha: repels $43,616,645 (??)
posted by chewy on 5-8-2009 at 3:01 pm
I REALLY miss the cheese danish! Why did it go away? It was my favorite breakfast thing there.
posted by Tracie on 5-8-2009 at 3:01 pm
McDonalds was my first employer & I learned a lot there… I used to love the food there… now it’s just plain cardboard… untouched my human hands. If the food isn’t an hour old in their ‘warming bins’ its freshly microwaved… pure shit.
Throw in lousy service for a well-rounded ass-reaming experience.
posted by Ednonymous on 5-8-2009 at 5:57 pm
Though Kroc was the most successful franchisee, he wasn’t the first. That honor goes to Phoenix businessman Neil Fox, who opened his store in 1953. The brothers McDonald weren’t interested in running additional hamburger stands, but they had been franchising their “Speedy Service System” for a couple of years before Ray Kroc appeared on the horizon. For a thousand bucks, they’d sell any taker the plans for running their own business, complete with building blueprints featuring those distinctive golden arches.
posted by DanB on 5-9-2009 at 3:42 pm
I really miss the cookies that came in the Happy Meals — today’s kids get screwed.
posted by M on 5-9-2009 at 6:42 pm
In Maine, Mc Ds have the McLobster Roll…yeahhhhhh….I think not.
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posted by Zelda on 5-9-2009 at 8:15 pm
I like the McDonald’s hotcakes they are so gooey and moist.
posted by Kari on 5-9-2009 at 9:28 pm
At the McDonalds in Seoul we had bulgolgi burgers–not bad. :)
posted by Bibliomania on 5-11-2009 at 7:28 am
My folks grew up in San Berdoo and took us by the site of the first REAL McDonalds when we were kids in the ’60s. It was still there, then.
posted by JFS in IL on 5-11-2009 at 8:50 am
Two McMuffins and a large diet coke was the only way to survive many a hangover. Nothing else worked for me.
posted by Scott-O on 5-11-2009 at 2:14 pm
I HATEEEEEEE Wendy’s .. i ended up getting food posioining from one of their restaurants , it was year’s ago , but i still remember how Freaking sick i was !! i ll NEVER forget that!!
MD”S FREAKING ROCKS!!!!!!!!!!
posted by amy on 5-19-2009 at 1:37 am
That’s funny, I like Wendy’s too. Sure, the McNuggets taste better, but their faux-coating creeps me out, and Wendy’s 5-piece nuggets are on the dollar menu!
posted by Jenna on 6-1-2009 at 4:29 pm
Awesome post, but the comments were better. My standard Order: 2 Dbl Cheeseburgers, 6 piece McNuggets, and a large Hi-C.
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posted by Pablito on 6-1-2009 at 4:52 pm
I used to love Wendy’s… but then I quit eating junk food for a year (no sodas, nothing) and now, the only fast food hamburger I can eat without being seriously ill is the cheapo hamburger from McD’s. I never used to eat at McD’s, but now I won’t even try to eat anywhere else because of the inevitable disaster that follows.
Recaptcha: soggily Darling
posted by Megan on 6-1-2009 at 11:15 pm
Sharon, yes! The McDLTs!!! I seriously miss those.
Mind you, for a period of one year, I ate a McDonald’s for lunch almost every weekday, and it was invariably “#3 with a Sprite”. The staff got to know me, so it was my usual. ;-) Quarter pounder with cheese, medium fries, medium Sprite. And I weighed 135 pounds back then. Now I’m pushing 150. So McDonald’s does not really equate to “lardbutt” unless there’s something else going on, which is why I’m skeptical of the “Supersize Me!” movie’s message.
posted by Calli Arcale on 6-2-2009 at 10:59 am
I remember the pizza, although I don’t think I ever tried it. And I saw a store with the brats, but again, don’t think I sampled it. I pretty well stick to burgers when I go there. If I want chicken, I go to KFC; fish, LJS or Captain D’s. My favorite is a three-way tie depending on appetite: Double Quarter Pounder, Quarter Pounder, or Double Cheesburger.
I remember a McD’s near me that had an outdoor playground, and in the summer you could burn yourself on the metal equipment.
Although I don’t particularly dislike any fast food place, McD’s is probably my favorite fast food place, because as a youngster, it was a treat to go there – it was fine dining for us poor kids! As a burger conissuer (sp?) I really want to try Wattaburger and In and Out, but am geographically limited.
posted by Dustin Fritsche on 6-2-2009 at 1:50 pm
In Guatemala you can also place your McDonalds order over phone and have it delivered to your place (it arrives within 10 min at my place). We also have coffee shops called McCafes, I’m not sure if any other country has them too?
posted by Diego on 6-3-2009 at 5:02 pm